Self-adjusting inflatable pessary



I (-N o Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

B. P. WILSON.

SELF ADJUSTINGINFLATABLE PESSARY. No. 590,124. Patented Sept. 14,1897. 113-1- FIG. 4.

WITNESSES 1 O I O I I flm wg 2%6141 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet B. P. WILSON. SELF ADJUSTING INFLATABLE PESS ARY. No. 590.124. Patented Sept; 14, 1897. 15-. 2 &

W'ITWESSES I JV V'EJV TOR Attorney PATENT Trice.

BENJAMIN r. win-son,- or REDDICK, FLORIDA.

SELF-ADJUSTING INFLATABLE PESSARY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,124, dated September 14, 1897. Application filed November 21, 1896. 3 Serial No. 612,996. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN P. WILsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reddick, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pessaries; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to pessaries, the object being to provide a device of this character that can be readily inserted and removed even by unskilled persons, and further one that provides an effectual support for the uterus and which in use is not liable to cause inflammation and which will prevent undue stretching or flexion of the parts with which it is in contact.

The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view showing certain female organs with this invention in the position it occupies for backward or downward displacement of the womb, said pessary being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but illustrating the position of the pessary for forward displacement. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly-modified construction of pessary. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of the pessary shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a similar section of the pessary shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the pessary .con-

sists of a hollow ring or circular tube having a practically straight outer wall 1. The inner wall 2 is shorter than the outer wall, and these two walls are joined at their lower ends by the curved lower wall 3. The upper wall 4 joins the upper ends of the outer and inner walls and slopes gradually from its highest point to the upper end of the inner wall. This sloping portion 5 of the upper wall forms a seat or cup-shaped socket that receives the neck of the affected part and is shaped to conform as near as possible to the contour thereof, and thus afford the most natural support. The seat or socket thus formed varies according to the natureof the displacement of the organ to be treatedthat is to say,for backward displacement the rear portion of the seat or socket is higher than the front portion, or, in other words, the pessary is widest at the rear portion, so as to give the greatest support to the organ at this point and prevent it from falling backward against the rectum. The same shape of pessary is employed for downward displacement to support the'organ at the proper angle. This form of pessary is shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, while the form shown in Figs. 2 and 6 is for forward displacement and has the widest portion thereof, or the highest portion of the seat or socket, in front to afford the greatest support at this point and prevent the organ from falling forward against the bladder. The sloping portion of the upper wall is thicker than the other walls of the device to stiffen the same for the purpose of preventing a change in shape of theseat or cup-shaped socket and thus afford the requisite and re quired support, although this thickened portion does not detract from the flexibility of the pessary.

These pessaries may consist of a closed 1101- low and inflated ring, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which are to be made in different sizes to suit the different patients to be treated, or may be an inflatable hollow ring, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, wherein an inflating-tube 6 leads from the lower rear end portion and is preferably provided with a screw-cap 7 for closing the same. The pessary'fitting correctly should hardly be apparent to the wearer, and thus with the inflated and closed devices the skill of the physician will lead him to select the proper size, but the inflatable pessaries are preferably inserted in a partially-inflated condition and then inflated to the correct size by a suitable air-forcing device-for instance, a rubber bulb. The correct size is determined by the sensation produced upon the patient when the latter is walking or moving around. For instance, if the pessary seems liable to drop out it should be further inflated, and if it feels too tight some of the air should be allowed to escape. 'When the instrument fits perfectly, it should not be apparent to thepatient.

The seat or cup-shaped depression in the pessary is practically a counterpart of natnres seat for the uterus, while the central opening affords capability of drainage and permits application of dressings and even digital examination, as to ascertain that the pessary is properly adjusted.

These pessaries are inexpensive an d can be safely inserted, fitted, and removed by the patients themselves.

The elevation or upward projection of the eminence at the upper and back part of the pessary, designed to relieve backward displacements, is not confined to any particular degree, as this projection will have to be considerably greater for some cases than others. A pessary with an extended projection is shown in Fig. 7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An annular pessary comprising parallel,

yielding, inner and outer walls, the portion of the inner wall parallel with the outer wall being shorter than the latter and connected therewith by an inclined wall forming, in 0011- nection with the inner and outer walls, a seat or cup-shaped socket, substantially as described.

2. An annular pessary comprising parallel, yielding, outer and inner Walls, the portion of the inner wall parallel with the outer wall being shorter than the latter and connected therewith by an inclined wall forming, in con nection with the inner and outer walls a seat or cup-shaped socket, and an air-conduit by which the pessary may be inflated, substantially as described.

3. An annular pessary comprising parallel, yielding, inner and outer walls, the portion of the inner wall parallel with the outer wall being shorter than the latter and connected therewith by an inclined, thickened wall, forming, in connection with the inner and outer walls, a seat or cup-shaped socket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

B. P. \VILSON.

\Vitn esses:

S. O. REDDICK, L. S. LIGHT. 

